title: Role of neuraminidase-dependent adherence in Bacteroides fragilis attachment to human epithelial cells.
abstract: Of 50 B. fragilis strains isolated from clinical samples we have demonstrated that 24 (48%) possess an adhesin that mediates a neuraminidase-dependent attachment of B. fragilis to mammalian epithelial cells, but does not mediate any association with human polymorphonuclear leucocytes. This ligand interacts with a mammalian cell receptor that contains a galactoside residue, exposed after neuraminidase pretreatment. Our results suggest a possible role for cell associated neuraminidase in mediating a two step adherence mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Microbiologia, Universitá di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Platé
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pruzzo
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology*; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C063910:adhesin, Bacteroides; D009439:Neuraminidase